gracie_r

This is the kind of summary I needed! Thanks for the links too.

I had no idea there was so much to learn about this! Since I sew I didn't think it would be too big of a jump to go to quilting, but there are a lot of new concepts.

sewnsewer2

All you need to quilt on your sewing machine is a quilting foot or walking foot.

I use my darning foot and also a walking foot, depending on what style of quilting I do. I do all mine on my Bernina and Kenmore.

Quilting Aggi

arrrrrrrgghhh I should say you wouldn't put yourself through that again!! I find working with my twins to queens tough on my regular machine!!! You are a brave woman!! but kudos to you for doing it!!!!

I want to get another quilt ready for hand quilting now. I love to handquilt the best of all, but tend to machine more as they don't take as long to complete. I had to complete three quilts for gifts in August and they were all done by machine... Whew!! glad that is done, now I can focus on my things again and play with my needles!! :)

mpspeedy

Gracie,

THere is a method of quilting that suits everyone. Most of us peice or applique by machine as it is faster and would seem to be more secure. I am a hand quilter but do machine quilt smaller items especially those for children or persons who have no idea how to care for hand work. Much depends on what the item will be used for, how much time you have to complete the work and how much time you have available.
I enjoy hand quilting because I can watch TV, listen to music or be a part of a conversation while quilting. Machine quilting is noisy and requires paying closer attention since you are operating a machine.
There is a place in the quilt world for everyone be they purist who do everything including peicing and applique by hand to the ones who fuse, paste or even paint their quilts. Whatever makes you happy and gets the job done.

Welcome to our world.

retrogirl02

WOW that is supercool....I know fast forwarded but still so intricate realatively quickly...I'm superslow LOL and love hand quilting. It's very relaxing. If I need something done by a specific date, I may consider sending out for longarm. I have tried machine quilting on smaller projects but it's just not nice looking. I don't have the correct walking foot yet, and maybe that is part of my problem. My machine is lower end and I did have it hanging on a side with virtually no support for my material-----a big no-no (not that I dont' break rules)...but it pulls on your needle and the stitches look very uneven. Welcome aboard.

tlrnhi

I will machine quilt or tie my quilts.
My hand sewing sucks, so hand quilting is not for me.
I've never sent any of my quilts to a longarmer, but will be in the next few months. Just need to get the quilt done first! lol

We all do what is comfortable for us. You do what is comfortable for you.

Don't forget to show pictures of your work. WE LOVE PICTURES!!

Rose Marie

Most of my quilts are lap size that I quilt by machine. I use a walking foot for most of the quilt but use free motion on the border.
Borders are easy to handle and dont need to be shoved thru the machine.
This way I get lots of practice with free motion. My favorite stencil is leaves that are continuous line. It is a fun pattern and sure helps me practice the free motion.
Larger quilts I send out to the long armer. I did one twin size myself and it was not fun at all.

Shelley

Some people are all about the piecing. They love the finding of just the right fabric, and putting them together. My grandmother left this word with tons of quilt tops unquilted. Hand quilting was her only option, but she really loved to make the tops. She lived until her 80's, but her life was still not long enough to make all the quilts she wanted. I was a teen when she passed away. It would have been so fun to work with her as a team to turn those tops into quilts. I'm sure my aunts tossed them, since none of them knew how to quilt. How cool would it have been to have someone quilt them, and pass finished quilts throughout the family?

Remember, it's not a quilt until it's quilted!! How many tops do you have sitting on closet shelves, not warming the hearts (or bodies!) of anyone? Yes, there is a cost involved, but you've already started the process. You purchased a sewing machine, fabric, thread, rulers, cutting mats, and all the goodies that go with. Your full closets could be family treasures.